Ibusuki

Ibusuki (指宿市) is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, founded on April 1, 1954. In March 1, 2012, the city had an estimated population of 43,931, with 19,119 households and a population density of 294.82 persons per km2. However the census of 2020 confirmed a population decline to 39,011 and by October 2022 there were only 17,537 households. The census of 2024, showed that the population had declined even further and was at 36,656 people, and 17,317 households. The total area is 148.81 km2 and shares a border with Ei, a town to its north.

On January 1, 2006, the towns of Kaimon and Yamagawa (both from Ibusuki District) were merged into Ibusuki.

Ibusuki can be accessed by Routes 226 and 269 and the Ibusuki Skyline drive. The city's main railroad station is Ibusuki Station.

Ibusuki is famous for black-sand spas known as sunamushi onsen and the fine noodle sōmen nagashi.

Ibusuki has a sister city relationship with Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

Geography
Points of interest include: The city includes the following districts from the west: Yunohama
 * Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park contains in its Kagoshima Bay region:
 * Kaimondake volcano
 * An inactive stratovolcano at the end of the Satsuma Peninsula
 * Chiringashima
 * Island in Kagoshima Bay
 * Lake Ikeda
 * A volcanic caldera
 * Tōsenkyō
 * Ryūgū Shrine
 * Kaimonjutcho
 * The northern aspect of Mount Kaimon and adjacent sea coast of Satsuma Peninsula
 * Kaimonkawashiri
 * The southern aspect Mount Kaimon and adjacent sea coast of Satsuma Peninsula
 * Kaimonsenta
 * From Kaimonjutcho and Kaimonkawashiri to Lake Ikeda
 * Ikeda
 * Northern Lake Ikeda to the west
 * Iwamoto
 * North of Ikeda to the west coast at Kagoshima Bay
 * Komaki
 * regions north west of Iwamoto to the west coast at Kagoshima Bay
 * Yamagawaokachogamizu
 * The coast including Cape Nagasakibana at the entrance to Kagoshima Bay
 * Kaimonueno
 * From Lake Ikeda towards the south
 * Yamagawatoshinaga
 * Adjacent to eastern shore Lake Ikeda
 * Yamagawaoyama
 * to the west of Yamagawaogawa from Nishi-Ōyama rail station to Lake Unagi
 * Yamagawaogawa
 * extends from near the sea almost to Lake Unagi a volcanic crater
 * Yamagawanarikawa
 * Surrounds of Lake Unagi to the northern aspects Yamagawa harbour
 * Nishikata
 * from west of Lake Unagi to Kagoshima Bay including the land corridor to Ibusuki
 * Higashikata
 * Rural north of Lake Unagi almost to the coast of Kagoshima Bay missing the main land corridor to Ibusuki and includes Chiringashima
 * Yamagawafukumoto
 * coast at entrance to Kagoshima Bay and includes southern aspects Yamagawa harbour
 * Yamagawaasahicho
 * coastal in Yamagawa harbour within Kagoshima Bay
 * Shinnishikata
 * Northern inland area
 * Junicho
 * Almost from Lake Unagi to the east, mainly inland but reaching the coast at northern aspect Yamagawa harbour
 * Omure
 * Central Ibusuki to the north and reaching Kagoshima Bay
 * Minato
 * Central Ibusuki to the north and reaching Kagoshima Bay
 * South of Ibusukifrom railway to coast of Kagoshima Bay
 * Kiirenukumicho
 * North of Komaki along the coast of Kagoshima Bay
 * Yamagawayamashitacho

Geology
The city has many volcanoes and hot springs of the Ibusuki Volcanic Field. The Yamagawa Binary Power Station uses local geothermal power to contribute a maximum of 4990 kilowatts as a "green energy" source.

Climate
Ibusuki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, and is heavier in summer, especially the months of June and July. The average annual temperature in Ibusuki is 18.3 C. The average annual rainfall is 2602.1 mm with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.1 C, and lowest in January, at around 8.7 C. Its record high is 36.8 C, reached on 18 August 2020, and its record low is -3.4 C, reached on 25 January 2016. Due to its marine subtropical climate, the city is the northern limit in Japan where cycads grow naturally.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Ibusuki in 2020 is 39,011 people. Since the census began in Ibusuki in 1950, the town's population has been slowly declining, with no signs of picking up until 2020 but the latest data suggests further decline.

Culture

 * Hirasaki Shrine
 * Iwasaki Art Museum
 * Ibusuki Onsen
 * Ibusuki Experimental Botanical Garden

Transport

 * Higashi-Kaimon Station
 * Ibusuki Station
 * Irino Station
 * Kaimon Station
 * Miyagahama Station
 * Nigatsuden Station
 * Nishi-Ōyama Station
 * Ōyama Station
 * Satsuma-Imaizumi Station
 * Satsuma-Kawashiri Station
 * Yamakawa Station

Twin cities

 * Chitose in Hokkaidō
 * Rockhampton in Australia